24/7 restaurant dine-ins now allowed under GCQ
Restaurants in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) have been allowed to operate for 24 hours a day starting Saturday, October 3, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
In Memorandum Circular No. 20-52 issued on Friday, October 2, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez lifted the window hour restrictions for restaurants and allowed dine-in, take-out, and delivery services amid the coronavirus-triggered recession.
24/7 food delivery services under GCQ have been approved last August.
Restaurants are now also allowed to operate at more than 50% capacity, subject to the corresponding local government unit (LGU) guidelines.
LGUs would likewise stipulate the maximum servings of alcoholic beverages in restaurants.
However, beer houses and night clubs, which primarily serve alcoholic drinks, are still not allowed to reopen.
The 30% cap on gyms, internet cafes, and tutorial centers remain.
The 75% operational capacity limit for barbershops and salons also remain.
The following businesses classified under category II and III will also be allowed to operate at 100% capacity, provided that they comply with the minimum public health and safety protocols:
- Mining and quarrying (domestic)
- Financial services (money exchange, insurance, reinsurance, lending, non-compulsory pension funding)
- Legal and accounting
- Management consultancy activities
- Architecture and engineering activities, technical testing and analysis
- Scientific and research development
- Advertising and market research
- Computer programming
- Publishing and printing services
- Film, music, and TV production
- Recruitment and placement agencies for overseas employment
- Photography services, fashion, industrial, graphic, interior design
- Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles
- Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles (including vulcanizing shops, battery repair shops, auto repair shops, car wash)
- Malls and commercial centers (non-leisure only; subject to further pertinent guidelines issued by the Department of Trade and Industry)
The following non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments (mall-based or otherwise) have also been approved to operate at full capacity:
- Hardware stores
- Clothing and accessories
- Bookstores and school and office supplies stores
- Baby or infant care supplies stores
- Pet shops, pet food, and pet care supplies
- IT, communications, electronic equipment
- Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops
- Toy stores (playgrounds and amusement areas will remain closed)
- Music stores
- Art galleries (selling only)
- Firearms and ammunition trading establishments
Non-leisure areas of malls, as well as non-leisure establishments, have also been allowed to operate up to 11 pm, "subject to pertinent guidelines."
– Rappler.com
Ralf Rivas
@RalfRivasA sociologist by heart, a journalist by profession. Ralf is Rappler's business reporter, covering macroeconomy, government finance, companies, and agriculture.
